Media coverage of two British healthcare workers who experienced anaphylaxis after receiving the Pfizer/BioNT version of the COVID-19 vaccine last week led to widespread presumption that the vaccine should not be given to patients with a history of allergic reactions to vaccinations. In an effort to dispel that notion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an announcement stating that the vaccine is believed to be safe for use in all patients, but that patients with a history of vaccine-related reactions should be counseled on increased risk for allergic reaction and monitored for 30 minutes after receiving the COVID-19 shot. This is supported by data from the Food and Drug Administration indicating that 0.63% of trial participants who received the vaccine experienced serious adverse reactions, compared with .51% of people who received a placebo.
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Update: CDC Clarifies Its Stance on Risk of Anaphylaxis with the COVID-19 Vaccine